Does prison do more harm than good?

Answer 1

Not sure about that. atleast the criminals are out of society. but the come out with more knowledge than they went in.

Answer 2

As an ex officer of the prison service I would like to put my views forward.....
I can agree with almost everything that has been said here - I can appreciate the views of families of prisoners that there is a loss on both sides for them, and the views of those who have done time, how difficult life is for them both inside and when they come out - I have seen much of this first hand. However some of the views of others trying to take an objective look, such as prison is not right, that we should deal with offenders' offending issues in the community ...... isn't that what had been happening before the offender offended? Most of those who offend are already known to 'the system'....
My view is that prison should be selective - I totally agree with those comments about the imbalance between a person and non-person crime and do entirely agree that our justice system, whether English, British, American or European has totally the wrong perspective....
I believe that those who have committed murder, regardless of what 'degree' it was in (including crimes of passion and those committed whilst 'temporarily insane' (if that really is a state of mind) should receive a long term of imprisonment - that their sentences should not be reduced because of how much time they may have spent awaiting trial - that's part of their punishment - and if given a life sentence then it should mean life. Their sentence should reflect the fact that they have taken someones' life. No matter how sorry they are, they can't bring back the dead.
I believe there should be a distinct distinction between murder and manslaughter, killing a person in a car accident is still a death but it's not murder in the same sense as being intentional - their sentences should also be long, but not as long as life, but should still reflect the severity of their crime.
I do not believe those who commit rape crimes and crimes against children can ever be 'rehabilitated' - it's in their genes and no amount of therapy can make that go away. I believe it's in society's interests, and theirs, that once found and convicted, rapists and paedophoiles should be sentenced to some form of 'rehoming', like a village or a town where only they live, away from mainstream society and society's children - where not only can they never have contact with those they have raped or children again, if the temptation for contact is lessened - if they can't see and hear them, then it's highly unlikely they can ever hurt them or anyone else again.
I believe that in any of the cases above the offender should be made to make some form compensation to their victim - it should be part of the sentencing, perhaps a percentage of their earnings or benefits should go to their victims.

The use of a weapon, or threatening a person with a weapon, gun or otherwise - should be dealt with severely and that in every instance these individuals should serve a time that reflects the anguish and stress they have put their victims through. Again I believe they should be made to compensate to their victims, like giving up a percentage of their earnings or benefits.

For the other crimes that are non- person, then I can to a fair degree agree with those who feel offenders should/could be dealt with better in the community - restorative justice, mediation, community work, if they have property of value (be it homes and/or investments) it should be taxed to pay for what they have taken (including any winnings they have on lotteries or other funds) - for many therapy and rehabilitation will work - they have not offended against the person but the community - therefore they must compensate to the community and modify their mindset to their community.

I believe that if the above were applied to the English system of justice - then the whole justice system would work better - for both the offender and society - the social workers and therapists would have better and more immediate accurate access to their 'clients' and we would not have such overcrowded prison establishments as we are facing now. The opportunity and possibility of rehabilitation, if it is there, has a 100% better chance of being effective. The only real 'education' going on right now for offenders - is how to be a better offender - normality and civilisation gets beaten out of them : ''...when in Rome - do what the Romans do...'

Answer 3

In a lot of cases it does, studies show that you are far more likely to reoffend once you have been to prison, they are places to learn new crime.

Also, the idea is to rehabilitate the offender, which in this country has little effect if the offender is well educated since the prison service has very little to offer in the way of rehabilitation, it does help people to learn basic life skills, reading writing, maths etc and does look at offending behaviour.

The other area of harm is where someone is innocent and has just taken a guilty plea because they are advised to do so, going to prison not only stigmatises them in the community, it also reduces your ability to work as a lot of companies ask for CRB checks these days.

The family of the convicted also lose their father or mother, this has a major effect on relationships and the children where there are children.

Not to mention the stress, prisoners have a high rate of depression whilst in prison and after leaving.

I would not recommend it as a way to rehabilitate, most matters can be dealt with in the community.

Answer 4

Perhaps. It is a strange situation because it is supposed to be a punishment (removing freedom, no privacy) but a lot of the people in prisons have never had it so good. A roof over their heads,a place to sleep, regular meals. Not to mention that often they have access to cigarettes and drugs, wide screen tvs and se x on demand. No wonder so many reoffend when they get out. There is nothing scary about prison to them. It is the best place for networking for future crime. I'm sure there are people in prison that hate it and I know it is not all peachy. There are people that want to get better and recover from their criminal lives but do not stand a chance. It really is the most bizarre thing.

Answer 5

In somecases yes. IF someone went to prison and they were of a weak charactor, they will get put on to drugs such as crack or heroin, and you will get yourself a habit, the big boys in prison like to have all the weak ones running after drugs so they do anything for it. They take the piss outta you after they got you hooked, and not before, they nice to you whilst tryna get you on the drugs,then once your on it, they aint your friend no more. Some get badly beaten up just for the fun of it, some stay in there so long that they dont wanna come out. some have nothing to live for on the outside after going in the first time, so they repeat it and keep returning to HMP!

Plus, if the person does have a family on the outside, they do a sentance too, TRUST ME, it hurts sooooooooooooo bad when someone you love is mixed with the scum of this world, his freedom taken away from them. Its awful to think about so i cant imagine being in a cell so small for however long.

Prison should be for rapists, perverts and murderers, not robbers or fordsters, why does a rapist get 4 years and a armed robber get life. Where is the justice in this world. ITs just sick, the prisons are filled with sick evil twisted people, so anyone going in is gonna come out even more fuc!ked. I have living proof in my family. But the only thing that kept my bro alive in the mentally, is knowing that we loved him till death and we were also so deeply depressed at his absence.

Answer 6

i think 4 alot of people its really pointless. I promise ya im a good guy i got threatened to defraud a casino when i was a dealer there and i made the decision to look after myself instead of protecting the casino. Please note that i would never have done this otherwise as i am not criminally minded what so ever. When it came to my sentencing i which by the way was 2 years after the incident, i spoke to the judge and told him i was so so sorry for what i had done and that i only did it 4 my own safety. I was working 2 jobs and at college studying health sciences and that i am on the right path to a good life. Now i know i may be going on alittle bit but i really wasnt to blame 4 waht happened as i was scared and the police acknowledged the fact that i wasnt to blame as they never checked me for any of the money that was taken which was 60 grand as they know i never had it. All this was said in court but i still got sent to prison. Now i have never had any criminals as friends b4 i went away and have had nothing at all to do with drugs. But since going away i lost my 2 jobs and college and now im finding it very hard 2 get back in2 work as fraud against your work place is pretty serious. I got involved with people who had committed alsorts of crimes from murder 2 drug dealing. I got locked in cells with people taking heroin and other drugs. I just think that there wasnt any need to introduce me to that life style when there is other ways of punishment. So i think that for certain people prison isnt the answer as people do make mistakes.

Answer 7

Depends on the person. My friend's boyfriend is a herion addict, he has been in prison for about 5/6 months and this seems to have really help him get off smack and he is now clean. However statistics show that a high percentage of offenders, re-offended within 6 months after they have been released. I think that all the really bad people should be shot, thats one definate way of reducing crime.

Answer 8

its possible..but the real question is would the Prisoners do more harm than good...What to do with the criminal element of society has been / and is a difficult problem for every society that has ever been..some people really do belong there...and some of them really do deserve whatever they get...the punishment should fit the crime..and to act as a deterrent..should be harsh...

Answer 9

When you consider the victims and the families of the victims, prisons aren't hard enough on criminals. Their should be more death penalties, more life sentences, and a child molester should never walk the streets again as long as they live.

Answer 10

They do....As the people that commit crimes have already a problem that had not been addressed. Banging them up with other criminals without proper counselling and or rehab services, the likely hood re-offend are very high. As you have to be more of a criminal in jail to survive than not.

Answer 11

Yes, boredom, little sunlight and being in a small space can be harmful to the health and to the mind.